First time posting, need some advice.

[wibabad]

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Hello,

This is first time I am posting in this forum.
I really appreciate all of the user's questions and answers that are posted every day!
I just need some advice from you guys regarding to my situation.

I am an international student and I am planing to apply in this cycle.
My GPA is around 3.50 and my DAT is 20AA and 20TS (which is on the lower side considering I am an international student).
I have seen many posts written by international students here and most of them were ended up retaking the exam.

I also wanted to retake the DAT before I apply so I scheduled my DAT this week.
However, due to my summer course schedule, I did not felt that I am ready to take the DAT yet.
So I wanted to defer it till July 1st.
I told my parents regarding this matter but my dad is frustrated that I am not prepared for the date that I selected at first.
(I even told my dad that I am going to use my savings from my summer research job to take the DAT but it is hard to persuade him..and all of my financial account is under control of my dad so I can't really do anything with out his permission..)

Accordingly, I need to apply with my current stats.
I was hoping to apply international-friendly schools including:
NYU, Detroit Mercy, BU, Case Western, University if Pittsburgh, Nova, University of Buffalo, University of Minnesota.

Do you guys think that I still have a chance with my original stats?
Any feedback is appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance..

 

[I want to go to there]

Canadian or international student? It's much harder to get in as an international student even at "international-friendly schools". Even if you are a Canadian, I think you need a better score than 20AA with your GPA to stand a good chance.

 

[wibabad]

Canadian or international student? It's much harder to get in as an international student even at "international-friendly schools". Even if you are a Canadian, I think you need a better score than 20AA with your GPA to stand a good chance.

canadian.
thanks for your feedback..

 

[chikonan]

No ... I'm not sure with that GPA, you will need to retake your DAT. It is totally up to you for making those decision but if you feel the need to retake, you do what you have to do 😉. And if you are not ready, postpone it no matter what your dad said. A $100 fee to defer is way cheaper than a lower score and $400 for another retake.
Also apply more to private schools, I see you have lots of public school, which will kinda be difficult since you are international. Private schools accept more international and care less in some certain extends about your status.
But I'm sure you will be fine 😉. Good luck!

 

[wibabad]

No ... I'm not sure with that GPA, you will need to retake your DAT. It is totally up to you for making those decision but if you feel the need to retake, you do what you have to do 😉. And if you are not ready, postpone it no matter what your dad said. A $100 fee to defer is way cheaper than a lower score and $400 for another retake.
Also apply more to private schools, I see you have lots of public school, which will kinda be difficult since you are international. Private schools accept more international and care less in some certain extends about your status.
But I'm sure you will be fine 😉. Good luck!

Thank you so much for the encouragement.
I will try my best to persuade my dad but it doesn't seem easy to do..
I think I have already lost his trust in me anyways.
(he doesn't like that I am applying to US dental school in the first place anyways..He doesn't think that I am capable to apply to professional schools at all)

 

[midman19]

To be straight forward, your dad sounds controlling and you need to remove him from the decision making process. Anyone that doesn't think you are capable of professional school should not be making decisions for you. Cut the apron strings and tell him how its going to be. You never going to get anywhere with people controlling and micromanaging your life.

 

[wibabad]

To be straight forward, your dad sounds controlling and you need to remove him from the decision making process. Anyone that doesn't think you are capable of professional school should not be making decisions for you. Cut the apron strings and tell him how its going to be. You never going to get anywhere with people controlling and micromanaging your life.

thanks for your suggestions..

 

[alumdent]

Are DAT scores for international students expected to be higher or is the 20 AA and 20 TS just too low in general?

 

[3rdgenDDS]

A 20AA is about average for acceptance to dental schools for US students. Based on that, I would say as an international student to aim for at least a 21-22.

 

[wibabad]

thank you guys..
I just rescheduled my DAT to June 25th with my credit card.
I don't know what I am going to say to my dad but I am just going to take initiative for my goal..

By the way, is my application going to be too late if I submit it on June 25th?

 

[midman19]

Your application should be fine. It won't be sent in the first batch but you should still get all of your interviews you would have otherwise gotten around the same time.

 

[I want to go to there]

Are DAT scores for international students expected to be higher or is the 20 AA and 20 TS just too low in general?

I heard some schools have few spots sat aside for Canadians/international students, so the competition is much higher since there are only so many seats available for them. Don't know for sure if it's true, but it seems to make sense. It's like oos competing at is-friendly school.

 

[bc1002]

You should try very hard to convince your dad that you need to retake DAT. It is only $300... I am sure he has spent a fortune to support you study in this country. Why would he take a risk of you not being able to be accepted nowhere to only save 300 bucks... It doesn't make sense. Neither of your GPA nor DAT makes you a competitive international applicant. If you are not a Canadian, the situation would be even worse. Do you have great EC which might be able to compensate your average stats. Even so, I highly recommend you to retake DAT.

 

[ChanceMePlease]

Are DAT scores for international students expected to be higher or is the 20 AA and 20 TS just too low in general?

IIRC Canadian DAT is missing a portion of the US DAT, thus the AA and TS would be different had OP taken the US DAT (I think Canadian doesn't test Orgo, which is pretty important)

 

[kayden28]

IIRC Canadian DAT is missing a portion of the US DAT, thus the AA and TS would be different had OP taken the US DAT (I think Canadian doesn't test Orgo, which is pretty important)

The Canadian DAT is missing the QR and Orgo sections, however, there are American schools which consider the cDAT. While TS and AA may be calculated differently, I don't believe that schools take that fact into consideration when they assess a Canadian applicants scores.

 

[bc1002]

Are DAT scores for international students expected to be higher or is the 20 AA and 20 TS just too low in general?

20 is average for US applicants. Because international applicants compete for few spots at dental schools, they need higher than average scores.

 

[XZeRO]

20 is average for US applicants. Because international applicants compete for few spots at dental schools, they need higher than average scores.

Is this a general statement for all dental schools?

 

[bc1002]

Is this a general statement for all dental schools?

well, not all dental schools take international students...